Tortles of the Purple Sage

"Tortles of the Purple Sage" by Merle and Jackie Rasmussen is a D&D wilderness adventure for character levels 4-10, published in Dungeon #6 (July/August, 1987) and Dungeon #7 (September/October, 1987).

Dungeon #6 (July/August, 1987).  Cover illustration by Jim Holloway.

The Adventure:

I posted a review of this adventure on Dragonsfoot, back in 2010.

The theme of exploration serves as a continuation of module X9 "The Savage Coast" with further details regarding the three alignment-based alliances, the Lawful Brotherhood from the previous adventure, and a newly described Chaotic Sisterhood.

About the Authors:

Merle and Jackie Rasmussen live a quiet life in the small Iowa town of Huxley.  Merle is the general manager of a game store in Des Moines, and Jackie is a legal secretary.  Both have written for DRAGON magazine and TSR's game division.  Besides writing modules for the D&D game, the pair have worked on many TOP SECRET game projects.

Dungeon #6 (July/August, 1987)

The Great Northway Lands:

Map of the Great Northway Lands.  Cartography by Diesel.

The Great Northway is a broad and mighty river which flows for thousands of miles from its mythical source, the Spring of Good Health.  Some say the river might actually be a channel to the arctic waters of Frosthaven.*

*a barren island of rocks and ice, home to a huge clan of frost giants, described in CM1 "Test of the Warlords"

Details are provided regarding the remnants of three cities of the ancient Dravs, connected by mysterious gate stones.  The cities were destroyed by an earthquake, which also shifted the course of the Great Northway.

The coastal climate of the Great Northway Lands is similar to the southeast United States, while the inland climate is like Southern California or the Mediterranean.  During the winter, the Yazak Steppes resemble the midwest United States prairie during spring or fall.

New Monsters:

Rasmussen uses several monsters with origins in previous adventures, citing their entries in AC9 "Creature Catalog" (1986):

Amoeba, Giant;* Aranea;** Archer Bush;*** Cay-man;**** Decapus, Marine;*** Dog; Dragonfly**** (white, black, green, blue, red, gold); Dragonne;***** Hawk (normal, giant); Hypnosnake;****** Lupin;* Native; Pagan;* Phanaton (subchief, warchief, bodyguards);** Pocket Dragon;******* Rakasta;** Sea Dragon; Slime Worm;* Snapper; Tortle; Vampire Rose***

*appeared in X2 "Castle Amber"

**appeared in X1 "The Isle of Dread"

***appeared in B3 "Palace of the Silver Princess"

****appeared in AC2 "The Treasure of the Hideous One"

*****appeared in XL-1 "Quest for the Heartstone"

******appeared in X3 "Curse of Xanathon"

*******appeared in M2 "Maze of the Riddling Minotaur"

Conclusion:

"Tortles of the Purple Sage" completes Merle Rasmussen's expansion of the Known World.  As with his prior works, its primary utility may be to serve as a backdrop for expansion, rather than as a standalone adventure.